Buttons Polyps not opening

[auximage]

I'm still a bit new to reefing, so bare with me if I'm wrong in some of my assumptions. However, I got a colony of (what I can best tell) are button polyps. When I first put them into the tank, everthing was fine, and some of the larger ones would fully open all of the time. Over the course of about a month now, I've noticed that the larger ones don't fully open, and some don't open at all it seems.

After talking at the LFS, it was suggested that perhaps they are getting too much light. So I've since moved them down to the bottom of the tank. I'm observing them more closely (and daily now). However, I've noticed what looks like white 'fuzz' around the base of some of their stalks and hope there's not something else afoot here. You can just make it out below on the stalks on the right portion of the rock.

Is it lighting? Flow? Or is there some other thing that I'm wholly unaware of here eating away at some of the newer members to my tank?

 

[J. Montgomery]

Hey, Welcome to Club Zoa!

Those are zoanthids, what some people call button polyps.

I don't think that too much light or flow is at stake. And if your other corals look fine, then its something specific to that colony.

I would first guess that they've been attacked by zoa eating nudis. Check at night for them, an hour or two after the lights have gone off. The color is usually similar to that of the coral they've been eating.

From my experience, I'd expect all the polyps with the "pinched in heads" will melt away. The polyps that are closed up probably aren't far behind. Dip the colony in an iodine solution (Lugol's or TMPCC) and you can probably save the ones that are still open . . . maybe more. Good luck with it.

 

[auximage]

Thanks for the tip. I've not spotted a nudi (never seen one so hopefully I can figure it after lights out). Will dipping in an iodine solution kill the nudi if it's on the rock? Also, when you say iodine solution, is it a specific solution I buy, or is there a recipe I can use if I already have a pure iodine solution (x parts iodine, y parts water)?

Thanks again for helping along another 'new guy'.

 

[J. Montgomery]

I use the Tropic Marin Pro Coral Cure dip. It's iodine based, as is Lugol's (made by Kent). The Lugol's is easier to find, but I think the TMPCC is better. I always use it at 2x the recommended concentration and dip for ~20mind. Shake the rock real good to dislodge anything holding onto it. You can kill the adults, but not the eggs. Try dipping it every few (5?) days.

I'm not familiar with a recipe that uses iodine from the drug/grocery store.

 

[auximage]

Yea. Evidently it's impossible to buy regular Lugol Iodine now because of Federal Laws. I'll stop by the LFS and pick up a bottle. Cut the lights out a little earlier than normal last night and checked a couple time for a nudi. No luck. Didn't see anything around the polyps, or in the tank. Didn't realize I had as many pods as I do, since I've never looked around after lights out. Pretty interesting.

Thanks again for ya'lls help. I was looking around on sites last night to find pictures of nudi's, and realized that I HAVE seen one. It was tiny, and I thought it was some type of small snail (which I guess it kind of is). Had really nice brown and cream colors. Didn't realize what it was when I saw it.

If I do happen to catch the little bugger, are there people or stores that want these things? I hate to terminate something if I don't have to.

 

[J. Montgomery]

No one wants nudis, they're the Scourge of God. Absolutely good for nothing

 

[auximage]

No one wants nudis, they're the Scourge of God. Absolutely good for nothing

So tell me.. how do you REALLY FEEL??!!
:laughing8:


Really. I do appreciate the advice. I guess if I can catch the guy he's toast. Big IF there though since I've not seen it in months.